Grasscut

Formed in the late 2000s, Grasscut, a Brighton, England-based duo comprised of notable television and film composer Andrew Phillips and keyboardist/classically trained double bassist Marcus O'Dair craft glitchy, sugary, ambient-steampunk confections that skillfully blur the line between the natural and synthetic worlds. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Kraftwerk, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Devo, and Robert Wyatt, the latter of whom appeared as a guest vocalist on the pair's second studio album, Grasscut's penchant for juggling organic samples and circular melodies with pastoral imagery has drawn comparisons to everyone from Hot Chip and Boards of Canada to Eluvium and Max Richter. After signing with acclaimed British independent label Ninja Tune in 2010, Grasscut released its full-length studio debut, 1 Inch: ½ Mile, to favorable reviews. The duo's ambitious and atmospheric sophomore outing, Unearth, followed in 2012.